Travel assistance system

ABSTRACT

Apparatuses, systems and methods associated with a travel assistance system. A wearable personal navigation device may include a communication system, an indicator, and a processor coupled to the communication system and the indicator. The processor may be configured to generate a request for a navigation path from a location to a destination and transmit the request to a node of the network. The processor may be configured to determine the direction of travel from the location of the user based on a first navigation path received from the node of the network in response to the request, wherein the first navigation path includes at least one modification from a second navigation path, wherein the modification is based on data received by the network from a remote device that indicates an object, and cause the indicator to indicate the direction of travel. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional of, and claims priority to, U.S.Provisional Patent Application No. 62/359,028, filed on Jul. 6, 2016.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

© 2017 Lillie Coney. A portion of the disclosure of this patent documentcontains material, which is subject to copyright protection. Thecopyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyoneof the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in thePatent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwisereserves all copyright rights whatsoever. 37 CFR § 1.71(d).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to the field of travel assistancesystems. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a travelassistance system that supplements map data with data captured bywearable personal navigation devices and/or beacons, and providesdirections in formats that do not rely solely upon visual aids oractions taken by the user, which may be for impaired users.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose ofgenerally presenting the context of the disclosure. Unless otherwiseindicated herein, the materials described in this section are not priorart to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be priorart by inclusion in this section.

In legacy travel assistance systems, the systems may rely onnetwork-accessible maps to determine a route from a starting point tothe destination. The network-accessible maps are often generated and notupdated based on changes to the physical locations. The use of maps forguidance purposes often relies upon generating digital representationsor images from stored databases. Reliance upon visual representationsfor the purpose of navigation may offer distractions to a user. Further,the network-accessible maps fail to identify obstacles along the route,such as construction, bumps, and other obstacles. These legacy travelassistance systems do not reveal details in smaller units ofmeasurements such as centimeters, feet, or inches. In addition, the lackof identification of the obstacles or path conditions could presentrisks to a user being guided along the route.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments will be readily understood by the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. To facilitatethis description, like reference numerals designate like structuralelements. Embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and not by wayof limitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example travel assistance system, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates example accessible network systems accessible by thetravel assistance system of FIG. 1, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified flow diagram of an example process to beperformed by a wearable personal navigation device of the travelassistance system of FIG. 1, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 4 illustrates a simplified flow diagram of an example process to beperformed by an interface system of the travel assistance system of FIG.1, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified flow diagram of another example processto be performed by an interface system of the travel assistance systemof FIG. 1, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example representation of a wearable personalnavigation device traveling through multiple beacon operating regions,according to various embodiments.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example layout that illustrates some features of atravel assistance system, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 8 illustrates another example layout that illustrates some featuresof a travel assistance system, according to various embodiments.

FIG. 9 illustrates an example pair of glasses adapted for use inconnection with the travel assistance system of FIG. 1, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example cane adapted for use in connection withthe travel assistance system of FIG. 1, according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example animal harness adapted for use inconnection with the travel assistance system of FIG. 1, according tovarious embodiments.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example shoe adapted for use in connection withthe travel assistance system of FIG. 1, according to variousembodiments.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example belt adapted for use in connection withthe travel assistance system of FIG. 1, according to variousembodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Apparatuses, systems and methods associated with a travel assistancesystem. A wearable personal navigation device may use proximity in anarrangement of technologies or applications that include a communicationsystem, an indicator, and a processor coupled to the communicationsystem and the indicator, and/or a hybrid system comprising garments tobe worn that incorporate one or more of the features described herein toform a travel assistance system that uses sensation to communicate tothe user's sense of touch the application of sensation and/or audio thatform shapes, pats, thrums, or other means that are discernable throughtouch sensation, and/or, to the user's sense of hearing, audiocommunication. The processor may be configured to generate a request fora navigation path from a location to a destination and transmit therequest to a node of the network. The travel assistance system may querya user regarding instructions, if certain conditions are met, thatindicate the user may be having difficulty navigating. Further, thetravel assistance system may retain and retransmit, upon request or froma learned preference, a route or path which may be based upon the date,day, time of day, weather condition, crime reports, accident reports, orother factors which have associated stored travel routes. The processormay be configured to determine the user's preference for travel and thedirection of travel from the location of the user based on a firstnavigation path received from the node of the network in response to therequest, wherein the first navigation path includes at least onemodification from a second navigation path, wherein the modification isbased on data received by the network from a remote device thatindicates an object, and cause the indicator to indicate the directionof travel.

The travel assistance system may be useful in situations where a user isunable to be guided to a destination by sight or may use mobilityassistive services, devices and/or technology. Further, the travelassistance system may provide sensory directions to a user, which maypresent less of a distraction than legacy travel assistance systems thatrely on visual displays of digital representations and/or images. Forexample, individuals with disabilities may wish to travel to adestination without the ability of sight or bipedal locomotion. Legacytravel assistance systems may lack information about the surroundings ofthe individuals and/or details of the navigation path that may bespecific to the needs of individual forms locomotion from a location ofthe individual to the destination, which may pose danger or risks ofinjury to the individuals. The travel assistance system disclosed hereinmay provide additional information regarding the surroundings that mayreduce danger or risk of injury to the individuals.

The travel assistance system may further be useful in emergencysituations. Often in emergency situations, emergency crews must travelthrough dark or low visibility conditions, unfamiliar settings, and/orare unable to determine obstacles along a path to rescue a victim orreached safety. The travel assistance system disclosed herein mayprovide information that helps emergency crews navigate through the darkor low vision surroundings and/or determine obstacles that may not bedeterminable by legacy travel assistance systems.

The travel assistance system may be useful in healthcare settings suchas hospitals, custodial care or home settings. The travel assistancesystem may provide prompts based on time of day, day of the weekphysical condition, environmental factors, or other indicators thatindicate action should be taken. Medical errors account for thousands ofdeaths and injuries each year. Having the correct patient and thecorrect application of medical skill and knowledge for a patient'scondition as well adherence to protocols regarding hygiene and standardsof care may reduce the risks of errors. The user can navigate to thecorrect location and/or confirm that the medicines, therapeutic, or careis appropriate for the intended recipient. For example, the careprovider can be prompted to attend to a patient that is scheduled toreceive an antibiotic medication and ensure that right dosage isprovided at the correct time. In addition, upon entering the patient'sroom the identity of the care provider may be logged and their proximityto the sanitizer dispenser may be registered, as well as whether it wasused, and, if the sanitizer dispenser is not used, an alert may be sentto the healthcare professional to remind them to use the sanitizerdispenser before attending the patient.

The travel assistance system may be useful in supply chain managementwhere in an end-to-end global system of inventory control is supported.For example, when a shipping clerk receives a request for an item theymay place a query to the travel assistance system, which can locate thatthere is one item located on a truck being driven to store. The travelassistance system can provide the name of the driver, their companyissued cellphone, their dispatchers name and contact information.,information on the item such as whether it was a special order for acustomer or not. Further, the system can support the shipping clerkcommunicating at any point in the supply chain to the individual with alink to the company that is the nearest in geo-location or proximity tothe queried item and provide guidance on retrieval of the item and theprocedure for it being transported to a desired location. This systemcan provide near real-time inventory data for registered items based ona database or data communicated by wireless tags or beacons.

The travel assistance system may be helpful in manufacturing, repair,and maintenance situations where accurate information or the correctpart being installed and the use of proper fasteners, components, orapproved parts to remediate breakdowns or conduct repairs and routinemaintenance may be beneficial. For example, a commercial aircraft maytravel outside of the United States and may need repair, but there is nomechanism for assuring that the part, prior to or during installation,meets factory specifications. Further, there may be no approach thatassures that the correct location where a repair is needed or service isrequired. In some embodiments, the travel assistance system may allow apilot, manufacturer or aviation authority to determine if changesoccurred that introduced a part or item absent a service request as wellas assure that services provided meet specification requirements.

The travel assistance system may be useful to motor vehicle, waternavigation systems, and aerospace transport. The travel assistancesystem may support guidance that does not rely solely upon visual maps,navigation charts, or astronavigation. The travel assistance system maycollect and report mapping guidance based upon immediate environment tosupplement stored or retrieved mapping or map data. Further, the unitsof measurement may range from the largest units to smallest units tosupport navigation among lanes of a highway, for a fully automated airtraffic control system, autonomous shipping and resupply systems, safetyand security deterrence and compliance systems, mass transit systems,other services that have provisioning objectives that may beaccomplished through or supported in part by automated systems orsubsystems.

The travel assistance system may be helpful to municipal governments,and property owners in identifying hazards, risks, or impediments toegress and ingress so that they may be addressed or repaired. Further,municipal governments or property owners may provide content to thetravel assistance system on the availability of public spaces (such aswalkways, aisles, elevators, escalators, roads, parks, beaches,recreational areas, and/or paths) for travel and/or use. Users of publicor commercial space may communicate to municipal government or aproperty owner conditions that warrant redress as the conditions maypose a risk of injury and/or inconvenience to users or customers.

The travel assistance system may be helpful to those who are distractedwhile walking or using a personal autonomous form of conveyance inpedestrian spaces. For example, a person texting, while walking may notbe aware of changes in the surface of the walkway they are using, knowwhen they are approaching steps, or escalators, how far they are awayfrom a bus stop, or how to navigate to the entrance of a building.

The travel assistance system may allow users of the system to captureimages and/or video (wherein it is to be understood that video may be aseries of images) that may obscure people, but not their surroundings.The images and/or video may be bartered, sold, or licensed for use bylegacy mapping or advanced navigation services from the user of thetravel assistance system in exchange for in-kind services, coupons, ormonetary compensation.

The travel assistance system may store data regarding hazards or risksand may communicate that information to property owners or municipalservices. For example, a tree root has raised the sidewalk and the pathposes a risk of pedestrian falls or injury. A notice may be sent to theowners of the property of municipal services to make a repair. Furtherthe traveler assistance system can route users around the obstacle untilit is repaired.

The travel assistance system may include an interface that mayincorporate speech recognition and voice identification to secure thedevice from accepting commands or misinterpreting ambient orenvironmental noise as commands.

The travel assistance system may allow interfaces for assistive devices,technologies or applications such as gloves, sip and puff devices, orother devices or applications designed to assist persons with multipledisabilities or those working in environments or situations where vocalcommunication is kept at a minimum. In some embodiments, gloves, videofeeds, and/or motion detection, may translate sign language intorequests to the traveler assistance system. The traveler assistancesystem may provide information in visual form or translate it asnon-audible guidance to wearable interfaces.

The travel assistance system may support interruption of travel andresumption of travel and amendment of travel destination at thediscretion of the user.

The travel assistance system may allow a user to identify another userthey are seeking to join or travel with at some point in their journey.

A user of the travel assistance system may have the option of notsharing or allowing others to determine if they are using the travelassistance system.

A user may use a digital address book or previous travel history torequest that they have a link with another user of the travel assistancesystem.

A user may approve a request from another user to share travelerassistance system information.

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings which form a part hereof wherein like numeralsdesignate like parts throughout, and in which is shown by way ofillustration embodiments that may be practiced. It is to be understoodthat other embodiments may be utilized and structural or logical changesmay be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.Therefore, the following detailed description is not to be taken in alimiting sense, and the scope of embodiments is defined by the appendedclaims and their equivalents.

Aspects of the disclosure are disclosed in the accompanying description.Alternate embodiments of the present disclosure and their equivalentsmay be devised without parting from the spirit or scope of the presentdisclosure. It should be noted that like elements disclosed below areindicated by like reference numbers in the drawings.

Various operations may be described as multiple discrete actions oroperations in turn, in a manner that is most helpful in understandingthe claimed subject matter. However, the order of description should notbe construed as to imply that these operations are necessarily orderdependent. In particular, these operations may not be performed in theorder of presentation. Operations described may be performed in adifferent order than the described embodiment. Various additionaloperations may be performed and/or described operations may be omittedin additional embodiments.

As used herein, the term ‘user’ may refer to a wearer, a bearer, orsomeone having another relationship to the travel assistance systemsand/or the wearable personal navigation devices described throughoutthis disclosure.

As used herein, the term ‘interface system’ may refer to a server, aninterface device, a device that is designed to process requests anddeliver data to one or more components of the travel assistance system(such as beacons, geo-proximity plugs, and/or wearable personalnavigation devices) or some combination thereof.

The travel assistance system may be a user centric system that may takeinto consideration medical knowledge (including current and/or historicmedical knowledge), humans, and/or domesticated animals, then mayincorporate the state of the art in security by design, data protection,usability, accessibility, failsafe by design, privacy by design, and theprotection of natural persons to achieve optimal privacy, security,safety, resiliency, trustworthiness, confidentiality, integrity andavailability.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, the phrase “A and/or B”means (A), (B), or (A and B). For the purposes of the presentdisclosure, the phrase “A, B, and/or C” means (A), (B), (C), (A and B),(A and C), (B and C), or (A, B and C).

The description may use the phrases “in an embodiment,” or “inembodiments,” which may each refer to one or more of the same ordifferent embodiments. Furthermore, the terms “comprising,” “including,”“having,” and the like, as used with respect to embodiments of thepresent disclosure, are synonymous.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example travel assistance system 100, according tovarious embodiments. The travel assistance system 100 may include aninterface system 102. The interface system 102 may include a processor104. The processor 104 may perform one or more of the operationsdescribed as being performed by the interface system 102 and/or theprocessor 104 described throughout this disclosure. While the processor104 is referred to in the singular form, it is to be understood that theprocessor 104 may include one or more processors that perform theoperations.

The interface system 102 may further include one or more memory devices106. The memory devices 106 may include one or more random access memory(RAM) devices and/or read only memory (ROM) devices. The memory devices106 may store one or more instructions that, when executed by theinterface system 102, cause the interface system 102 to perform one ormore of the operations described throughout this disclosure. The memorydevices 106 may store information received by the interface system 102and/or provided by the interface system 102, such as one or morenavigation paths, ratings associated with the navigation paths, one ormore representation of images, one or more indications of objects, userfeedback, or some combination thereof, as described further throughoutthis disclosure. In some embodiments, the information, or portionsthereof, may be associated with a certain user and/or wearable personalnavigation device (such as wearable personal navigation device 118),wherein access to the information, or portions thereof, is limited tothe certain user and/or wearable personal navigation device.

Content generated by a user's actions may not be retained by the travelassistance system 100 (including the interface system 102, the beacons110, and/or the wearable personal navigation devices 126) unlessdirected to do so by the person associated with the activity.

Access to user generated information associated with wearable personalnavigation devices 118 may be accessed by the user or assigned owner,first responders based upon the immediate health status of the or usershould there be immediate need of medical assistance, exhibited signs ofbeing lost, disoriented or other signs of physical stress, distress oran alert system that identifies the wearable personal navigation devices118 associated with the individual is issued by the appropriateauthorities. Further, a user may initiate action that summons assistancevia the travel assistance system 100 (which may be initiated via thewearable personal navigation devices 118).

The beacons 110, the interface system 102, and/or the wearable personalnavigation devices 126 may not retain identifying information that canbe linked to a unique person or persons, but may retain information onthe types of devices used to retrieve data or mark location based upondata contained or transmitted by the beacons 110, geo-proximity plugs,the interface system 102, and/or the wearable personal navigationdevices 118.

The beacons 110 may include data collection, retention, processing,transmission, sensing technology, and other technology or applicationsthat may further support point-to-point navigation and communicationeither through its own routing and internet protocol (IP) or conversionof existing IPs for transmission over the beacons 110 should the datameet certain criterion and is deemed to pose low risk to the travelassistance system 100 (including the communication system 108).

A geo-proximity plug may be a device and/or object that can be connectedto a device and/or object that is not wireless-enabled and allows thedevice to communicate with, and/or be recognized by, the travelassistance system 100, or components thereof. For example, objects thatmay be along a navigation path (such as trash receptacles, entrances,exits, elevators, escalators, buoys, posts, gates, signs, lamp posts,crossing locations, statues, and/or trees) may have geo-proximity plugsaffixed, permanently or semi-permanently, to the interior and/orexterior of objects. The geo-proximity plugs may transmit data to thetravel assistance system 100, or components thereof.

The interface system 102 may further include a communication system 108.The communication system 108 may facilitate wireless and/or wiredcommunication among the interface system 102 and other devices,including wearable personal navigation devices (such as wearablepersonal navigation devices 118), geo-proximity plugs, and/or beacons(such as beacons 110). Some examples of wireless communication (whichshould be understood to be non-limiting) that may be implemented thecommunication system 108 may include wireless fidelity (Wi-Fi)communication, near field communication, Bluetooth communication,wireless local area network (WLAN) communication, infrared (or otherspectrum based means), radio waves, mobile communication, other form ofwireless communication, or some combination thereof.

The travel assistance system 100 may further include one or more beacons110. For simplicity, a single beacon 110 is described herein. However,it is to be understood that each of the one or more beacons 110 mayinclude the features of the beacon 110 described. The beacon 110 mayinclude a communication system 112. The communication system 112 mayinclude one or more of the features of the communication system 108 andmay facilitate communication among the beacon 110 and other devices,including the wearable personal navigation devices and/or the interfacesystem 102. In some embodiments, wireless communication of thecommunication system 112 may be limited to an operating range (seeoperating range 608 and operating range 610 of FIG. 6) of the beacon110. For example, the communication system 112 may facilitatecommunication among the beacon 110 and wearable personal navigationdevices within the operating range of the beacon 110.

The beacon 110 may further include one or more sensors 114. The sensors114 may sense objects (including physical and/or structural features,which may incorporate wireless communication technology, such asgeo-proximity plugs or other similar technology) within the operatingrange of the beacon 110. The sensors 114 may sense locations of theobjects relative to the beacon 110 with relatively high precision(within one foot). The sensors 114 may emit a sound (and/or maycollaborate with other technology to emit a sound) and sense locationsof objects based on a direction from which reflected sounds are receivedand/or the time for the reflected sounds to be received after theinitial sound is emitted. In these embodiments, the sensors 114 mayinclude sonar systems to sense the locations and/or proximity of objectsthat are fixed or in motion. In some embodiments, the sensors 114 maysense the locations of the objects via other methods, including emittinglight and sensing reflected light (time and direction), capturing animage and identifying the objects within the image, transmitting amessage (such as via the communication system 112) to the objects anddetermining time periods to receive responses to the message, or somecombination thereof. Further, in some embodiments, the sensors 114 maysense locations of the wearable personal navigation devices within theoperating region of the beacon 110. The beacon 110 may transmit thesensed locations of the objects and/or the wearable personal navigationdevices to the interface system 102 via the communication system 112,wherein the interface system 102 may determine the locations of theobjects and/or the wearable personal navigation devices based, at leastin part, on the sensed locations.

The beacon 110 may further include one or memory devices 116. The memorydevices 116 may include one or more of the features of the memorydevices 106. The memory devices 116 may store the sensed locations ofthe objects sensed by the sensors 114. Further, the memory device 116may exclude from storage user personal identifiable information of theuser. The memory devices 116 may store the sensed locations until thesensed locations are transmitted to the interface system 102, for apredetermined time period, until a prompt to delete the sensed locationsis received, or some combination thereof. In some embodiments, thebeacons 110 may be omitted.

The beacon 110 may be a wireless location validation and/or homingdevice that may communicate with a full range of wireless devices toidentify, authenticate, protect against nonrepudiation, authorize, orvalidate a physical location.

The beacon 110 may be designed to manage signal processing in near realtime to meet the demand from wireless devices either alone or incollaboration with other beacons, system resources, or collaborativelyamong system interfacing devices to accomplished the most efficient andeffective use of resources given routine or emergency conditions.

The interface system 102 and the beacons 110 may be referred tothroughout this disclosure as a network. Further, each of the interfacesystem 102 and the beacons 110 may be referred to as a node of thenetwork. For example, when a device (such as the wearable personalnavigation devices 118) is referred to as communicating with a node ofthe network, the device may be communicating with the interface system102 or one of the beacons 110.

The travel assistance system 100 may further include one or morewearable personal navigation devices 118. The wearable personalnavigation devices 118 may be worn by users of the travel assistancesystem 100. Further, the wearable personal navigation devices 118 mayprovide directions to a destination, as is described throughout thisdisclosure. In some embodiments, the wearable personal navigationdevices 118 may include a wireless device (such as a cell phone, smartphone, personal digital assistant, smart watch, or other similarwireless devices) that includes a computer readable media device thatincludes instructions that, when executed by the wireless device, causethe wireless device to perform one or more of the operations performedby the wearable personal navigation devices 118 described throughoutthis disclosure.

In some embodiments, the wearable personal navigation devices 118 may becomprised of a layer of thin lightweight material with durablemicro-sensors woven into fabric, or incorporated into wearable itemssuch as badges, pins, belts, buttons, threads, adhesives, polymers,metals, synthetics, or sensory based upon characteristics or propertiesof the user. Further, the wearable personal navigation devices 118 maybe applied semi-permanently or temporarily in the form of appliques,buttons, pins, badges, tokens, etc.

In some embodiments, the wearable personal navigation devices 118 may bein the form of a vest, or two piece garment designed to be anundergarment or outerwear that incorporates a communication system thatmay use touch sensory communication through the use of pats, patterns,designs, thrums, that translate wireless information regardingdirection, availability, safety, security, or other information tosecure and provision travel to a desired location. Further, in theseembodiments, the wearable personal navigation devices 118 may augment orsupport nonverbal guidance information to the user through the skin,which is not only the body's largest organ, but one of its oldest andmost refined communication systems. This means of communication can bean alternative to audio, video, or image instruction, which may consumea great deal of power. Sensor pattern communicated to the skin canquickly alert the user to sudden introduction of obstacles in their pathor route of travel. Further, in these embodiments, the wearable personalnavigation devices 118 can serve as the foundation of reducing relianceupon canes and guide animals for navigation. The wearable personalnavigation devices 118 can support navigation by non-visually impairedusers in rooms with low light or no light, giving an option for usingillumination or not to navigate a space.

In some embodiments, each of the wearable personal navigation devices118 may be associated with a certain user. For example, one of thewearable personal navigation devices 118 may be associated with acertain user via the wearable personal navigation device 118 beingregistered to the certain user, the certain user entering credentials(such as a user name and password, or other security access information)into the wearable personal navigation device 118, another device ordevices associated with the user being within a predetermined distanceof the wearable personal navigation device 118, or some combinationthereof. The wearable personal navigation devices 118 may limit accessto the wearable personal navigation devices 118 or access to personalinformation associated with the certain user to the certain users towhich the wearable personal navigation devices 118 are associated. Thewearable personal navigation devices 118 (and/or the entirety of thetravel assistance system 100, including the interface system 102 and/orthe beacons 110) may implement design data security and/or privacyprotocols known to one having ordinary skill in the art to limit accessto the personal information to the certain users to which the wearablepersonal navigation devices 118 are associated.

In some embodiments, the travel assistance system 100 may be used forgroup travel management of individuals engaged in a group activity. Forexample, the travel assistance system 100 can be used for a familyouting with adults and young children. The travel assistance system 100may keep up with where each individual is and/or may be, communicatewhere they are allowed to be, provide navigation guidance to get them towhere they need to be, support going to the location where a member ofthe group is and/or may be located, or some combination thereof.

For simplicity, a single wearable personal navigation device 118 isdescribed below. However, it is to be understood that each of the one ormore wearable personal navigation devices 118 may include the featuresof the wearable personal navigation device 118 described.

The wearable personal navigation device 118 may include a processor 122.The processor 122 may perform one or more of the operations described asbeing performed by the wearable personal navigation device 118 and/orthe processor 122 described throughout this disclosure. While theprocessor 122 is referred to in the singular form, it is to beunderstood that the processor 122 may include one or more processorsthat perform the operations.

The wearable personal navigation device 118 may further include one ormore memory devices 124. The memory devices 124 may include one or morerandom access memory (RAM) devices and/or read only memory (ROM)devices. The memory devices 124 may store one or more instructions that,when executed by the wearable personal navigation device 118, cause thewearable personal navigation device 118 to perform one or more of theoperations described throughout this disclosure. The memory devices 124may store information received by the wearable personal navigationdevice 118 and/or provided by the wearable personal navigation device118, such as one or more navigation paths, ratings associated with thenavigation paths, one or more representation of images, one or moreindications of objects, user feedback, or some combination thereof, asdescribed further throughout this disclosure. Further, the memorydevices 124 may store information sensed by sensors (see sensors 126) ofthe wearable personal navigation device 118, such as images, datacaptured by the beacons 110 based upon proximity, distances to objects,location of objects, and/or other information sensed by the sensors.Stored data can aid in the retracing of a navigation path to originatingpoints, as well support repeat use of the navigation data in futuretravels in the same area.

The wearable personal navigation device 118 may further include acommunication system 120. The communication system 120 may include oneor more of the features of the communication system 108. Thecommunication system 120 may facilitate wireless and/or wiredcommunication among the wearable personal navigation device 118 and thebeacons 110. The beacons 110 may relay communications between theinterface system 102 and the wearable personal navigation device 118,allowing the interface system 102 and the wearable personal navigationdevice 118 to communicate with each other.

In some embodiments, the wearable personal navigation device 118 maycommunicate directly (i.e. not through relay by the beacons 110) withthe interface system 102. For example, in embodiments where the beacons110 are omitted, the wearable personal navigation device 118 maycommunicate directly with the interface system 102 via the communicationsystem 120.

The wearable personal navigation device 118 may further include one ormore sensors 126. The sensors 126 may sense information associated withan environment surrounding the wearable personal navigation device 118,such as objects within the environment, an amount of light within theenvironment, an amount of noise within the environment, or somecombination thereof.

The sensors 126 may include one or more cameras that capture images ofthe environment. The cameras may continuously capture the images,capture the images at predetermined intervals, capture the images inresponse to a trigger, or some combination thereof. The wearablepersonal navigation device 118 may transmit representations of theimages to the interface system 102, via the communication system 120,wherein the interface system 102 may analyze the representations of theimages identify and/or determine information associated with theenvironment. The interface system 102 and/or the wearable personalnavigation devices 118 may reduce images to non-visual assistive datathat removes non-permanent objects (such as persons, animals, vehicles,etc.). The interface system 102 and/or the wearable personal navigationdevices 118 may then generate, through identification of sufficientfixed unique points that are validated by data captured by the beacons110, a unique address within the travel assistance system 100. Thenon-visual assistive information may be stored and later used to matchimages that are captured to identify a unique location or reduce thenumber of possible locations. For example, the interface system 102 maydetermine the location of one or more objects within the environmentbased on the representations of the images. Further, the global beaconsystem can communicate to the wearable personal navigation devices 118locations, within centimeters or fractions of an inch, as well as allowdigital still images or videos, or scanned photographic images ordigitized analogue data to be matched to stored data.

In some embodiments, the wearable personal navigation device 118 mayanalyze the captured images rather than the representations of theimages being transmitted to the interface system 102 and analyzed by theinterface system 102. The wearable personal navigation device 118 mayidentify and/or determine information associated with the environmentand transmit the information associated with the environment to theinterface system 102. Further, in some embodiments, the wearablepersonal navigation device 118 may limit the transmissions of theinformation associated with the environment to the interface system 102to instances where the wearable personal navigation device 118identifies and/or determines information associated with the environmentthat has changed (such as determining that an amount of light within theenvironment has decreased, which may be due to lights shutting offduring a power outage), is different than expected (such as identifyinga new or unexpected object within the environment), or some combinationthereof.

In some embodiments, the sensors 126 may include a sonar system. Thesonar system may emit a sound and sense locations of objects within theenvironment based on a direction from which reflected sounds arereceived and/or the time for the reflected sounds to be received afterthe initial sound is emitted. In some embodiments, the sensors 126 mayemit light and sense reflected light (time and direction) to sense thelocations of the objects within the environment.

Further, in some embodiments, the sensors 126 may include pressuresensors or other sensors that can sense contact with an object. Forexample, the sensors 126 may be placed within a shoe (such as a toe,sole, and/or heel of the shoe, sock, or other footwear) and may identifywhen the shoe makes contact with an object. The wearable personalnavigation device 118 may identify a location of the object based on thesensors 126 sensing contact with the object. Further, the navigationdevice may detect and communicate type of surface, and surfaceconditions.

Still further, in some embodiments, the sensors 126 may sense motion ofthe wearable personal navigation device 118. The sensors 126 may furthersense a translation distance of the wearable personal navigation device118 between periods when the wearable personal navigation device 118 isnot moving. For example, the sensors 126 may be included in a shoe andmay sense when the shoe is moving and not moving. The sensors 126 maydetermine the translation distance between the two consecutive periodswhen the shoe is not moving, which may be equal to a stride of a user ofthe shoe. Accordingly, the wearable personal navigation device 118and/or the interface system 102 may determine a distance of a stride ofthe user based on the translation distance. In some embodiments, thesensors 126 may be omitted.

In some embodiments, the wearable personal navigation device 118 mayreceive an inquiry from the user for identification of an object withinthe environment around the wearable personal navigation device 118. Theobject may be in or motion or at rest. Further, in some embodiments, thewearable personal navigation device 118 may receive a request foridentification of a location, sound, external sensation, and/orenvironmental condition within the environment around the wearablepersonal navigation device. The wearable personal navigation device 118may communicate with the interface system 102 to identify the requestedobject, location, sound external sensation, and/or environmentalcondition and the wearable personal navigation device 118 may indicatethe identification to the user. The interface system 102 may communicatewith network systems (such as the network systems 202 (FIG. 2)) togather information to perform the identification. For example, the usermay hear a dog bark within the environment around the wearable personalnavigation device 118. The user may request that the user personalnavigation device 118 identify what kind of dog barked, the travelassistance system 100 may identify the kind of dog based on the bark,the direction, the amplitude, the modulation, and/or other details. Thewearable personal navigation device 118 may indicate the kind of dog tothe user, such as by indicating that the dog is a Sheppard puppy,located three feet away, and is on a leash. The travel assistance system100 may have access to information that may allow for analysis of audio,visual, and/or sensor input that may support the provision of accurateinformation, timely information, and/or useful information to the user.

In some embodiments, the wearable personal navigation devices 118 may becomprised of a layer of thin lightweight material with durablemicro-sensors woven into fabric, or incorporated into wearable itemssuch as badges, pins, belts, buttons, threads, adhesives, polymers,metals, synthetics, or sensory based upon characteristics or propertiesof the user. Further, the wearable personal navigation devices 118 maybe applied semi-permanently or temporarily in the form of appliques,buttons, pins, badges, tokens, or other means that are temporary ornon-permanent.

In some embodiments, a wearable lightweight material may supportcommunication for the travel assistance system 100, which may be in theform of a vest, or two piece garment designed to be worn as anundergarment or outerwear that incorporates a communication system thatuses touch sensory communication through the use of pats, patterns,designs, thrums, that translate wireless information regardingdirection, availability, safety, security, or other information tosecure and provision travel to a desired location.

In some embodiments the travel assistance system 100 may augment orsupports nonverbal guidance information to the user through the skin,which is not only the body's largest organ, but also one of its oldestand most refined communication systems. This means of communication canrange from an alternative to audio, video, or image instruction, whichconsume a great deal of power. Sensor pattern communicated to the skincan quickly alert the user to sudden introduction of obstacles in theirpath or route of travel. For example, a user that is in a blackout or inarea with low light or no lighting may be assisted in navigating to alocation of safety without a flashlight or visual aids as the rightsleeve of a garment communicates a tap to the right sleeve with anaudible “42 inches” followed by a tone that continues until the personhas rotated their forward point of reference sufficiently, the tonechanges and an audible “move” and/or a tap on the right mid-calfindicates when foot to move, and the shoe vibrates to confirm theguidance to proceed. The navigation path may be continually evaluatedfor safety and security that is used to update guidance information.Images that can be used to communicate to touch using geometric shapes.

The wearable personal navigation device 118 may further include one ormore indicators 128. The indicators 128 may indicate a direction oftravel that a user of the wearable personal navigation device 118 is toproceed from a current location. The processor 122 may determine thedirection of travel based on a navigation path received from theinterface system 102 (as described further throughout this disclosure)and cause the indicators 128 to indicate the direction of travel.

The indicators 128 may include one or more speakers that indicate thedirection in travel. The speakers may emit a sound and/or words thatindicate the direction of travel. In embodiments where the speakers emitsound, the sound may be emitted from the direction of travel, indicatingto the user that the user is to proceed in the direction of the sound.In embodiments where the speakers emit words, the words may include thedirection of travel and/or a distance that the user is to proceed in thedirection of travel (which may be indicated in an amount of steps and/orother measurement of the distance).

In some embodiments, the indicators 128 may include one or moreactuators that apply a force to the user of the wearable personalnavigation device 118 and/or generate a touch pattern. The actuators mayapply the force, and/or generate a touch pattern to indicate adirection, and/or rate, of travel in which the user of the wearablepersonal navigation device 118 is to proceed from the current location.In a touch pattern implementation, the user may contact the actuatorsand feel the touch pattern sensation to determine the direction, and/orrate, of travel in which the user of the wearable personal navigationdevice 118 is to proceed from the current location. For example, theactuators may be included in a belt and may apply a force to the user inthe direction of travel, and/or generate a touch pattern that the usermay sense, to indicate the direction of travel. In some embodiments, theforce and/or touch pattern may be applied to and/or sensed by the user'sarm to indicate the direction of travel.

In some embodiments, travel assistance system 100 may implement anemergency alert procedure that communicates system wide (i.e. theinterface system 102 may communicate an emergency alert to the beacons110 and/or the wearable personal navigation devices 118) based upongeo-location or geo-proximity official advisories regarding conditionsthat may threaten safety, security or wellbeing of a user. Further, thetravel assistance system 100 may provide guidance information, which maybe activated to assist users in reaching safety.

FIG. 2 illustrates example accessible network systems 202 accessible bythe travel assistance system 100 of FIG. 1, according to variousembodiments. In particular, the network systems 202 may be accessible bythe interface system 102 of the travel assistance system 100. Theinterface system 102 may retrieve information from the network systems202, which the interface system 102 may utilize for generating anavigation path for one or more of the wearable personal navigationdevices 118 (FIG. 1).

The network systems 202 may include a map database 204. The map database204 may include one or more maps. Further, the map database 204 mayproduce one or more navigation paths between locations based on themaps. The map database 204 may support access to, in near real time, oneor more maps within a certain time frame of a request for a navigationpath and/or a map. In some embodiments, the map database 204 may supportaccess to, in near real time, one or more maps within the certain timeframe of a request for a navigation path and/or a map. The time framemay be selected to achieve a predetermined accuracy for map provisioningservices. The map database 204 may include information that uses othermeans of uniquely identifies a location that is not in the form of animage or map. The map database 204 may return one or more navigationpaths and/or maps that include a starting point and a destination inresponse to receiving a request for a navigation path and/or map fromthe starting point to the destination. For example, the interface system102 may transmit the request for the navigation path and/or map to themap database 204 and receive one or more navigation paths and/or mapsfrom the map database 204 in response to the request.

In some embodiments, the map database 204 may include celestial charts,maps and astronomical data. The interface system 102 and/or the mapdatabase 204 may identify a celestial chart, map, and/or astronomicaldata for use by the travel assistance system 100 based on an imagecaptured by the wearable personal navigation devices 118 (and/or anothermobile device) or other image recording, including video of the skyabove the user. The interface system 102 may use the image captured bythe wearable personal navigation devices 118 (and/or another mobiledevice) or other image recording, including video of the sky above theuser to determine a location of the user and generate a navigation pathto a destination, safety, or to support rescue, and/or location effortsby registered users and/or emergency personal.

The network systems 202 may further include one or more publictransportation system information databases 206. The publictransportation system information databases 206 may include informationassociated with one or more different types of public transportation(such as times that the public transportation is running and/or wherethe public transportation is running). The map database 204 and/or theinterface system 102 may access the public transportation systeminformation databases 206 and may utilize information retrieved from thepublic transportation system information databases 206 to generate oneor more navigation paths and/or maps. For example, the map database 204may retrieve a bus route from the public transportation systeminformation database 206 and generate a navigation path that utilizes abus associated with the bus route.

The network systems 202 may further include a financial/cost system 208.The financial/cost system 208 may include costs of one or more types oftransportation. The map database 204 and/or the interface system 102 mayaccess the financial/cost system 208 and may retrieve cost informationassociated with one or more types of transportation. The map database204 and/or the interface system 102 may utilize the cost information togenerate a navigation path and/or a map. For example, the map database204 may retrieve cost information for one or more types oftransportation from the financial/cost system 208 and may generate anavigation path from a starting point to a destination that utilizes thecheapest transportation of the types of transportation.

The network systems 202 may further include a weather forecast system210. The weather forecast system 210 may include one or more weatherforecasts. The weather forecast may rely upon humidity, moisture, airpollution, and allergens sensors within a vicinity of the navigationpath, as well as along the navigation path. The map database 204 and/orthe interface system 102 may access the weather forecast system 210 andmay retrieve one or more weather forecasts for one or more navigationpaths from a starting point to a destination. The map database 204and/or the interface system 102 may utilize the weather forecasts togenerate a navigation path and/or a map. For example, the map database204 may retrieve weather forecasts from the weather forecast system 210and may generate a navigation path that utilizes a certain type oftransportation based on the weather forecasts, such as generating anavigation path that utilizes a bus if the weather forecasts indicatethere is rain along the navigation path from the starting point to thedestination.

The network systems 202 may further include a global user informationsystem 212. The global user information system 212 may includepreferences of one or more users of the travel assistance system 100,navigation paths utilized by users of the travel assistance system 100,ratings (such as difficulty ratings) associated with navigation paths,or some combination thereof. The map database 204 and/or the interfacesystem 102 may access the global user information system 212 and mayretrieve one or more information from the global user information systemutilized for generating a navigation path and/or map. For example, themap database 204 may retrieve ratings associated with multiplenavigation paths and may generate a navigation path from a startingpoint to a destination based on the ratings associated with the multiplenavigation paths. In some embodiments, the global user informationsystem 212 may be included in the interface system 102 rather than thenetwork systems 202 and may be accessible by the interface system 102,but not by the map database 204. In some embodiments, the user may plana trip without being in the location where the travel will begin or end.The travel assistance system 100 may discard or store information(depending on settings and/or user indications of whether to discard orstore the information) for the planned trip for later use.

In some embodiments, one or more of the public transportation systeminformation databases 206, the financial/cost system 208, the weatherforecast system 210, and/or the global user information system 212 maybe omitted. Further, in some examples, the map database 204 may beutilized to generate the navigation paths and/or maps withoutinformation from the other systems within the network systems 202.

FIG. 3 illustrates a simplified flow diagram of an example process 300to be performed by a wearable personal navigation device 118 (FIG. 1) ofthe travel assistance system 100 of FIG. 1, according to variousembodiments.

In stage 302, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may receive arequest for directions to a destination. The request for directions tothe destination may be received from a user of the wearable personalnavigation device 118. The destination can be indicated be the user inthe request for directions. In some embodiments, the destination may beset to be a location of another one of the wearable personal navigationdevices 118 or a wireless device, which may be utilized for directingemergency crews to individuals in an emergency situation. Further, insome embodiments, the request for directions to the destination may beautomatically initiated in response to a change in the environment (suchas the environment becoming dark and/or an emergency situation) and thedestination may be an exit from the environment.

In stage 304, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may generate arequest for a navigation path. The request for the navigation path mayinclude an indication of the destination requested by the user. In someembodiments, the request for the navigation path may further include astarting point, which may be a current location of the wearable personalnavigation device 118. The wearable personal navigation device 118 maydetermine the current location based on an input of the user or maydetermine the current location based on communication transmitted viathe communication system 120, such as communication with a globalpositioning system that may indicate the current location of thewearable personal navigation device 118.

In stage 306, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may transmitthe request for the navigation path to a node of the network. Thewearable personal navigation device 118 may transmit the request via thecommunication system 120 of the wearable personal navigation device 118.

In stage 308, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may receive anavigation path from the node of the network. The navigation path mayhave been generated by the interface system 102 (FIG. 1) of the travelassistance system 100. The interface system 102 may have retrieved afirst navigation path and/or a map indicating a first navigation pathfrom the map database 204 (FIG. 2). The first navigation path and/or themap indicating the first navigation path may have been generated by themap database 204 based on a map included in the map database 204.

The interface system 102 may analyze information associated with theenvironment surrounding the wearable personal navigation device 118sensed by the sensors 114 (FIG. 1) of the beacons 110 (FIG. 1) and/orthe sensors 126 (FIG. 1) of the wearable personal navigation device 118or another wearable personal navigation device 118 (wherein the beacons110 and the other personal wearable navigation device 118 may becollectively referred to as ‘remote devices’) to determine if there areany objects that impede the first navigation path indicated by theinformation. The information may include information previously sensedby the sensors 114 and/or the sensors 126, which may have been stored inthe memory device 106 (FIG. 1) of the interface system 102 and/orretrieved from the global user information system 212 (FIG. 2). Theobjects may have been absent from the map included in the map database204 due to map inadvertently generated without the objects, thegeneration of the map being prior to the introduction of the objects,the objects being temporarily introduced to the environment, or othersimilar reasons.

In response to determining that at least one object impedes the firstnavigation path, the interface system 102 may generate a secondnavigation path that includes at least one modification from the firstnavigation path, wherein the second navigation path avoids the objectsthat impede the first navigation path. In embodiments where theinterface system 102 received the map from the map database 204, theinterface system 102 may generate the second navigation path based onthe map. In embodiments where the interface system 102 received thefirst navigation path from the map database 204, the interface system102 may request another navigation path from the map database 204 thatavoids the objects. In response to receiving the request for the othernavigation path, the map database 204 may provide the second navigationpath to the interface system 102.

In some instances, the interface system 102 may determine that an objectimpedes the first navigation path, although the object may be avoided bya user of the wearable personal navigation device 118 by providingnotice of the object. For example, the object may be an uneven place inthe sidewalk that a user could step over if notified of the unevenplace. In this instance, the modification included in the secondnavigation path from the first navigation path may include an indicationof the object and/or an indication to step up, down, or over (i.e. amodification in the vertical direction rather than the horizontaldirection) to avoid the object.

In some embodiments, the interface system 102 may retrieve a difficultyrating associated with the first navigation path from the global userinformation system 212. The interface system 102 may compare thedifficulty rating associated with the first navigation path with amaximum difficulty rating associated with a user of the wearablepersonal navigation device 118 to determine if the first navigation pathis too difficult for the user to travel. In response to determining thatthe difficulty rating associated with the first navigation path is toodifficult for the user, the interface system 102 may generate the secondnavigation path that is not too difficult for the user to travel or thatdoes not have a difficulty rating associated with the second navigationpath. In embodiments where the interface system 102 receives the mapfrom the map database 204, the interface system 102 may generate thesecond navigation path based on the map and/or a difficulty ratingassociated with the second navigation path retrieved from the globaluser information system 212. In embodiments, where the interface system102 received the first navigation path from the map database 204, theinterface system 102 may request another navigation path from the mapdatabase 204 with a difficulty rating that is not too difficult for theuser. In response to receiving the request for the other navigationpath, the map database 204 may provide the second navigation path to theinterface system 102. Alternatively, the interface system 102 mayrequest another navigation path from the map database 204 and thenaccess a difficulty rating associated with the new navigation path todetermine if the new navigation path is too difficult for the user.Assuming the new navigation path is not too difficult for the user, theinterface system 102 may return the new navigation path as the secondnavigation path. If the new navigation path is too difficult for theuser, the interface system 102 may repeat the process requesting anothernavigation path.

In stage 308, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may receivethe second navigation path from the node of the network.

In stage 310, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may determinea direction of travel based on the second navigation path. The directionof travel may be based on a current location of the wearable personalnavigation device 118 along the second navigation path, a direction thatthe wearable personal navigation device 118 is facing, a direction thatthe user of the wearable personal navigation device 118 is facing, orsome combination thereof. The wearable personal navigation device 118may determine the direction of travel as the direction that the user isto travel from the current location to remain on the second navigationpath. The direction of travel may be updated as the user (wearing thewearable personal navigation device 118) travels along the secondnavigation path.

In stage 312, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may indicatethe direction of travel to the user. The wearable personal navigationdevice 118 may indicate the direction of travel to the user via theindicators 128 (FIG. 1) of the wearable personal navigation device 118.The indicators 128 may indicate the direction of travel as described inrelation to FIG. 1.

In some embodiments, the process 300 may terminate upon completion ofstage 312, such that the wearable personal navigation device 118continues to indicate the direction of travel along the secondnavigation path until the user arrives at the destination. In otherembodiments, the process 300 may proceed to stage 314.

In stage 314, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may senseinformation associated with the environment surrounding the personalnavigation device 118. The wearable personal navigation device 118 mayutilize the sensors 126 to sense the object. In embodiments where thesensors 126 include one or more cameras, the sensors 126 may capture oneor more images of the environment as the user (wearing the personalnavigation device 118) travels along the second navigation path. In someembodiments, the processor 122 of the wearable personal navigationdevice 118 may analyze the images of the environment to identify anobject that impedes travel along the second navigation path.

In embodiments where the sensors 126 include a sonar system, thewearable personal navigation device 118 may sense an object that impedestravel along the second navigation path via the sonar system. Further,in embodiments where the sensors 126 include one or more pressuresensors or other sensors that can sense contact with an object, thewearable personal navigation device 118 may sense an object that impedestravel along the second navigation path via contact with the object.

In stage 316, the wearable personal navigation device 118 may transmitthe information associated with the environment to the node of thenetwork. In embodiments where the wearable personal navigation device118 captures the images and does not analyze the images, the wearablepersonal navigation device 118 may transmit one or more representationsof the images to the node of the network. In response to receiving theone or more representations of the images, the interface system 102 mayanalyze the representations of the images to determine whether there isan object that impedes travel along the second navigation path. Inresponse to determining that there is an object that impedes travelalong the second navigation path, the interface system 102 may generatean updated navigation path from the second navigation path, wherein theupdated navigation path avoids the object. The updated navigation pathmay have a starting location of the current location of the wearablepersonal navigation device 118 when the information is sensed and maylead to the destination. The interface system 102 may transmit theupdated navigation path to the wearable personal navigation device 118.

In embodiments where the wearable navigation device 118 senses theobject (via analysis of captured images, the sonar system, and/orcontact with the object), the wearable navigation device 118 maytransmit an indication of the presence of the object and a location ofthe object to the interface system 102. In response to receiving theindication, the interface system 102 may generate an updated navigationpath from the second navigation path, wherein the updated navigationpath avoids the object. The updated navigation path may have a startinglocation of the current location of the wearable personal navigationdevice 118 when the information is sensed and may lead to thedestination. The interface system 102 may transmit the updatednavigation path to the wearable personal navigation device 118.

In stage 318, the wearable navigation device 118 may receive the updatednavigation path from the node of the network.

In stage 320, the wearable navigation device 118 may determine anupdated direction of travel based on the updated navigation path. Thedirection of travel may be based on a current location of the wearablepersonal navigation device 118 along the updated navigation path, adirection that the wearable personal navigation device 118 is facing, adirection that the user of the wearable personal navigation device 118is facing, or some combination thereof. The wearable personal navigationdevice 118 may determine the direction of travel as the direction thatthe user is to travel from the current location to remain on the updatednavigation path. The direction of travel may be updated as the user(wearing the wearable personal navigation device 118) travels along theupdated navigation path.

In stage 322, the wearable navigation device 118 may indicate theupdated direction of travel to the user. The wearable personalnavigation device 118 may indicate the updated direction of travel tothe user via the indicators 128 of the wearable personal navigationdevice 118. The indicators 128 may indicate the updated direction oftravel in a same manner as the direction of travel is indicated asdescribed in relation to FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 illustrates a simplified flow diagram of an example process 400to be performed by an interface system 102 of the travel assistancesystem 100 of FIG. 1, according to various embodiments.

In stage 402, the interface system 102 may receive a request for anavigation path from a wearable personal navigation device (such as thewearable personal navigation device 118).

In stage 404, the interface system 102 may identify a destination fromthe request. The interface system 102 may identify an indication of thedestination in the request for the navigation path. In some embodiments,the request for the navigation path may indicate that the destination isto be a default destination based on the current location of thewearable personal navigation device and/or the circumstances that causedthe request to be generated, wherein the circumstances may be indicatedin the request. For example, if the request was generated in response toan emergency situation, the default destination may be an exit of thestructure in which the wearable personal navigation device is located.

In stage 406, the interface system 102 may identify a current locationof the wearable personal navigation device. The interface system 102 mayidentify an indication of the current location of the wearable personalnavigation device in the request for the navigation path. In someembodiments, the request may include an indication of a starting point,and the interface system 102 may identify the starting point and utilizethe starting point in place of the current location of the wearablepersonal navigation device in the process 400. Further, in someembodiments, the request may not include an indication of the currentlocation and the interface system 102 may query a global positioningsystem and/or compare astronomical chart information based uponlocation, time of year, calendar date, time of day and direction towhich the image of the sky is captured to determine a current locationof the wearable personal navigation device.

In stage 408, the interface system 102 may obtain a first navigationpath from the current location of the wearable personal navigationdevice to the destination. The interface system 102 may obtain the firstnavigation path form the map database 204 (FIG. 2). The map database 204may return the first navigation path or a map that includes the firstnavigation path to the interface system 102.

In stage 410, the interface system 102 may modify to the firstnavigation path to produce a second navigation path. The interfacesystem 102 may modify the first navigation path based on informationassociated with the environment surrounding the wearable personalnavigation device. The information may be retrieved from the global userinformation system 212 (FIG. 2). The information associated with theenvironment may have been previously sensed by sensors (such as thesensors 126 (FIG. 1)) of the wearable personal navigation device oranother wearable personal navigation device, by the sensors 114 of thebeacons 110 (FIG. 1) (wherein the beacons 110 and the other wearablepersonal navigation device may be collectively referred to as ‘remotedevice’). The interface system 102 may analyze the information anddetermine if there are any objects that impede the first navigationpath. The objects may have been absent from the map included in the mapdatabase 204 due to map inadvertently generated without the objects, thegeneration of the map being prior to the introduction of the objects,the objects being temporarily introduced to the environment, or othersimilar reasons.

In response to determining that at least one object impedes the firstnavigation path, the interface system 102 may generate a secondnavigation path that includes at least one modification from the firstnavigation path, wherein the second navigation path avoids the objectsthat impede the first navigation path. In embodiments where theinterface system 102 received the map from the map database 204, theinterface system 102 may generate the second navigation path based onthe map. In embodiments where the interface system 102 received thefirst navigation path from the map database 204, the interface system102 may request another navigation path from the map database 204 thatavoids the objects. In response to receiving the request for the othernavigation path, the map database 204 may provide the second navigationpath to the interface system 102.

In some instances, the interface system 102 may determine that an objectimpedes the first navigation path, although the object may be avoided bya user of the wearable personal navigation device 118 by providingnotice of the object. For example, the object may be a crack in thesidewalk that a user could step over if notified of the crack. In thisinstance, the modification included in the second navigation path fromthe first navigation path may include an indication of the object and/oran indication to step up, down, or over (i.e. a modification in thevertical direction rather than the horizontal direction) to avoid theobject.

In some embodiments, the interface system 102 may retrieve a difficultyrating associated with the first navigation path from the global userinformation system 212. The interface system 102 may compare thedifficulty rating associated with the first navigation path with amaximum difficulty rating associated with a user of the wearablepersonal navigation device 118 to determine if the first navigation pathis too difficult for the user to travel. In response to determining thatthe difficulty rating associated with the first navigation path is toodifficult for the user, the interface system 102 may generate the secondnavigation path that is not too difficult for the user to travel or thatdoes not have a difficulty rating associated with the second navigationpath. In embodiments where the interface system 102 receives the mapfrom the map database 204, the interface system 102 may generate thesecond navigation path based on the map and/or a difficulty ratingassociated with the second navigation path retrieved from the globaluser information system 212. In embodiments, where the interface system102 received the first navigation path from the map database 204, theinterface system 102 may request another navigation path from the mapdatabase 204 with a difficulty rating that is not too difficult for theuser. In response to receiving the request for the other navigationpath, the map database 204 may provide the second navigation path to theinterface system 102. Alternatively, the interface system 102 mayrequest another navigation path from the map database 204 and thenaccess a difficulty rating associated with the new navigation path todetermine if the new navigation path is too difficult for the user.Assuming the new navigation path is not too difficult for the user, theinterface system 102 may return the new navigation path as the secondnavigation path. If the new navigation path is too difficult for theuser, the interface system 102 may repeat the process requesting anothernavigation path.

In stage 412, the interface system 102 may transmit the secondnavigation path to the wearable personal navigation device. In someembodiments, the process 400 may terminate upon completion of stage 412.In other embodiments, the process 400 may proceed to stage 414. Further,in some embodiments, the process 400 may proceed to stage 420.

In stage 414, the interface system 102 may receive informationassociated with the environment from the wearable personal navigationdevice. The information may be sensed by the wearable personalnavigation device as the user is traveling along the second navigationpath and may be transmitted by the wearable personal navigation deviceto the interface system 102 in response to being sensed. The informationmay include one or more representations of images captured by thewearable personal navigation device. In some embodiments, theinformation may include an indication of a presence of an object thatimpedes travel along the second navigation path and a location of theobject.

In stage 416, the interface system 102 may generate an updatednavigation path based on the information. In response to receiving theone or more representations of the images, the interface system 102 mayanalyze the representations of the images to determine whether there isan object that impedes travel along the second navigation path. Inresponse to determining that there is an object that impedes travelalong the second navigation path, the interface system 102 may generatean updated navigation path from the second navigation path, wherein theupdated navigation path avoids the object. The updated navigation pathmay have a starting location of the current location of the wearablepersonal navigation device when the information is sensed and may leadto the destination.

In some embodiments where the information includes the indication of thepresence of the object, the interface system 102 may generate an updatednavigation path from the second navigation path in response to receivingthe indication, wherein the updated navigation path avoids the object.The updated navigation path may have a starting location of the currentlocation of the wearable personal navigation device when the informationis sensed and may lead to the destination.

In stage 418, the interface system 102 may transmit the updatednavigation path to the wearable personal navigation path.

In stage 420, the interface system 102 may store the second navigationpath. The interface system 102 may store the second navigation path inglobal user information system 212 and/or in the memory devices 106 ofthe interface system 102.

In stage 422, the interface system 102 may transmit the secondnavigation path to a wearable personal navigation device in response toa subsequent request from the current location to the destination. Thewearable personal navigation device may be the same wearable personalnavigation device that transmitted the request that was received by theinterface system 102 in stage 402 or may be a different wearablepersonal navigation device.

FIG. 5 illustrates a simplified flow diagram of another example process500 to be performed by the interface system 102 (FIG. 1) of the travelassistance system 100 of FIG. 1, according to various embodiments.

In stage 502, the interface system 102 may receive a request for anavigation from a wearable personal navigation device. Stage 502 mayinclude one or more of the features of stage 402 (FIG. 4).

In stage 504, the interface system 102 may identify a destination fromthe request. Stage 504 may include one or more of the features of stage404 (FIG. 4).

In stage 506, the interface system 102 may identify a location of thewearable personal navigation device. Stage 506 may include one or moreof the features of stage 406 (FIG. 4).

In stage 508, the interface system 102 may obtain a map that includesthe location and the destination. The interface system 102 may obtainthe map from the map database 204 (FIG. 2).

In stage 510, the interface system 102 may generate multiple alternativenavigation paths from the location to the destination. The interfacesystem 102 may generate the multiple alternative navigation paths basedon the map, wherein each of the multiple alternative navigation pathslead from the location to the destination along different paths shown onthe map.

In stage 512, the interface system 102 may assign difficulty ratings toeach of the multiple alternative navigation paths. The interface system102 may access difficulty ratings for each of the multiple alternativenavigation paths from the global user information system 212 (FIG. 2)and may assign the difficulty ratings to each of the correspondingmultiple alternative navigation paths.

In some embodiments, the interface system 102 may access the global userinformation system 212 and retrieve information associated with the mapfrom the global user information system 212. The information may includeobjects located in locations portrayed by the map that may not beincluded in the map and locations of the objects. The objects may havebeen absent from the map included in the map database 204 due to mapinadvertently generated without the objects, the generation of the mapbeing prior to the introduction of the objects, the objects beingtemporarily introduced to the environment, or other similar reasons. Theobjects may have been previously sensed by the sensors 126 (FIG. 1) ofthe beacons 110 (FIG. 1), by sensors (such as the sensors 126 (FIG. 1))of the wearable personal navigation device from which the request wasreceived in stage 502, or by sensors (such as the sensors 126) ofanother wearable personal navigation device.

The interface system 102 may update the map with the objects. Theinterface system 102 may assign difficulty ratings to the multiplenavigation paths based on the amount of objects along each of themultiple navigation paths. For example, a navigation path with manyobjects or certain types of objects along the path may be assigned ahigh difficulty rating, while another navigation path with few objectsor different types of objects along the path may be assigned a lowdifficulty rating. The interface system 102 may save the difficultyratings for the multiple navigation paths in the global user informationsystem 212 and/or in the memory devices 106 (FIG. 1) of the interfacesystem 102.

In stage 514, the interface system 514 may select a navigation path ofthe multiple alternative navigation paths. The navigation path may beselected based on the navigation being assigned a lowest difficultyrating of the multiple navigation paths. In some embodiments, thenavigation path may be selected based on the difficulty rating of thenavigation path being easier than a maximum difficulty rating and thenavigation path being the shortest and/or quickest of the multiplenavigation paths with difficulty ratings being easier than the maximumdifficulty rating.

In stage 516, the interface system 102 may transmit the selectednavigation path to the wearable personal navigation device. In someembodiments, the process 500 may terminate upon completion of stage 516.In other embodiments, the process 500 may proceed to stage 518.

In stage 518, the interface system 102 may receive feedback from thewearable personal navigation device regarding the navigation path. Thefeedback may include a user-assigned difficulty rating for thenavigation path, indications of additional objects along the navigationpath, or some combination thereof.

In stage 520, the interface system 102 may update the difficulty ratingof the navigation path based on the feedback.

FIG. 6 illustrates an example representation 600 of a wearable personalnavigation device 602 traveling through multiple beacon operatingregions, according to various embodiments. The wearable personalnavigation device 602 may be part of a travel assistance system. Thewearable personal navigation device 602 may include one or more featuresof the wearable personal navigation devices 118 (FIG. 1). Further, thetravel assistance system may include one or more of the features of thetravel assistance system 100 (FIG. 1).

The representation 600 may include a first beacon 604 and a secondbeacon 606. The first beacon 604 and the second beacon 606 may includeone or more of the features of the beacons 110. The first beacon 604 mayhave an operating region 608. Further, the second beacon 606 may have anoperating region 610. In the illustrated embodiment, the operatingregion 608 of the first beacon 604 and the operating region 610 of thesecond beacon 606 may overlap and have an overlapping region 612.

The representation 600 may further include an object 614. The object 614may be located at least partially in the overlapping region 612. Thefirst beacon 604 may sense the presence of the object 614 via one ormore sensors (such as the sensors 114 (FIG. 1)) of the first beacon 604based on the object 614 being at least partially within the operatingregion 608 of the first beacon 604. The first beacon 604 may furtherdetermine a location of at least a portion of the object 614 within theoperating region 608 of the first beacon 604. The first beacon 604 maytransmit an indication of the presence of the object 614 and thelocation of the object 614 to a interface system 616. The interfacesystem 616 may include one or more of the features of the interfacesystem 102 (FIG. 1).

The second beacon 606 may also sense the present of the object 614 viaone or more sensors (such as the sensors 114 (FIG. 1)) of the secondbeacon 606 based on the object 614 being at least partially within theoperation region 610 of the second beacon 606. The second beacon 606 mayfurther determine a location of at least a portion of the object 614within the operating region 610 of the second beacon 606. The secondbeacon 606 may transmit an indication of the presence of the objection614 and the location of the object 614 to the interface system 616.

The wearable personal navigation device 602 may start in a firstlocation 618 located at least partially within the operating region 610of the second beacon 606. When in the operating region 610, the wearablepersonal navigation device 602 may communicate with the second beacon606. The second beacon 606 may operate as a relay, relayingcommunication between the wearable personal navigation device 602 andthe interface system 616. In some embodiments, the wearable personalnavigation device 602 may communicate directly with the interface system616 (i.e. communication between the wearable personal navigation device602 and the interface system 616 is not relayed via the second beacon606). It is to be understood that description of communications betweenthe interface system 616 and the wearable personal navigation device 602throughout this disclosure may be communication directly between theinterface system 616 and the wearable 602 or may be relayed by thesecond beacon 606 and/or the first beacon 604.

The wearable personal navigation device 602 may transmit a request for anavigation path from the first location 618 to a second location 620 tothe interface system 616. The interface system 616 may return anavigation path 622 to the wearable personal navigation device 602. Thenavigation path 622 may avoid the object 614.

As the wearable personal navigation device 602 travels along thenavigation path 622, the wearable personal navigation device 602 mayenter the overlapping region 612. While in the overlapping region 612,the wearable personal navigation device 602 may communicate with thefirst beacon 604, the second beacon 606, or both the first beacon 604and the second beacon 606. The first beacon 604 and/or the second beacon606 may relay communication between the wearable personal navigationdevice 602 and the interface system 616. In some embodiments, thewearable personal navigation device 602 may communicate directly withthe interface system 616.

As the wearable personal navigation device 602 continues to travel alongthe navigation path 622, the wearable personal navigation device 602 mayexit the overlapping region 612 and may be located at least partiallywithin the operating region 608 of the first beacon 604. When in theoperating region 608, the wearable personal navigation device 602 maycommunicate with the first beacon 604. The second beacon 604 may operateas a relay, relaying communication between the wearable personalnavigation device 602 and the interface system 616. In some embodiments,the wearable personal navigation device 602 may communicate directlywith the interface system 616.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example layout 700 that illustrates some featuresof a travel assistance system, according to various embodiments. Thetravel assistance system may include one or more of the features of thetravel assistance system 100 (FIG. 1).

In the illustrated embodiment, the travel assistance system may includeone or more beacons 702. In particular, the travel assistance system mayinclude a first beacon 702 a, a second beacon 702 b, and a third beacon702 c. The beacons 702 may include one or more of the features of thebeacons 110 (FIG. 1). The beacons 702 may be located around a structurerepresented by a map 704 in the layout 700.

The map 704 may have been obtained by an interface system 706 inresponse to a request for a navigation path from wearable personalnavigation device 708. The interface system 706 may include one or moreof the features of the interface system 102 (FIG. 1). Further, thewearable personal navigation device 708 may include one or more of thefeatures of the wearable personal navigation device 118 (FIG. 1). Theinterface system 706 may obtain the map 704 from a map database (such asthe map database 204 (FIG. 2)). The map 704 may include a currentposition 710 of the wearable personal navigation device 708 and adestination 712. The map 704 may further include a first navigation path714 from the current position 710 to the destination 712 that may havebeen indicated by the map database.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second beacon 702 b may have sensedan object 716 and a location of the object 716 within the structure. Thesecond beacon 702 b may have sensed the object 716 by any means ofsensing an object described in relation to the beacons 110. The secondbeacon 702 b may have transmitted an indication of the presence of theobject 716 and the location of the object 716 to the interface system706.

In response to having received the indication of the presence of theobject 716 and the location of the object 716, the interface system 706may have analyzed the indication and determined that the object 716impedes travel along the first navigation path 714. The interface system706 may have generated a second navigation path 718 that avoids theobject 716. In particular, the second navigation path 718 may include amodification from the first navigation path 714 that causes the secondnavigation path 718 to avoid the object 716. The interface system 706may have transmitted to the second navigation path 718 to the wearablepersonal navigation device 708 to be used for guiding a user from thecurrent position 710 to the destination 712 via indicating a directionof travel (such as the indication of the direction of travel describedin relation to the wearable personal navigation device 118).

FIG. 8 illustrates another example layout 800 that illustrates somefeatures of a travel assistance system, according to variousembodiments. The travel assistance system may include one or more of thefeatures of the travel assistance system 100 (FIG. 1).

In the illustrated embodiment, the travel assistance system may includea first wearable personal navigation device 802 and a second wearablepersonal navigation device 804. The first wearable personal navigationdevice 802 and the second wearable personal navigation device 804 mayinclude one or more of the features of the wearable personal navigationdevices 118 (FIG. 1).

An interface system 806 may have obtained a map 808, wherein the map 808represents a structure. The interface system 806 may include one or moreof the features of the interface system 102 (FIG. 1). The map 808 mayhave been retrieved by the interface system 806 in response to a requestfor a navigation path from first wearable personal navigation device802. The interface system 806 may retrieve the map 808 from a mapdatabase (such as the map database 204 (FIG. 2)). The map 808 mayinclude a current position 810 of the first wearable personal navigationdevice 802 and a destination 812. The map 808 may further include afirst navigation path 814 from the current position 810 to thedestination 812 that may have been indicated by the map database.

In the illustrated embodiment, the second wearable personal navigationdevice 804 may have sensed an object 816 and a location of the object816 within the structure. The second wearable personal navigation device804 may have sensed the object 816 by any means of sensing an objectdescribed in relation to the wearable personal navigation devices 118.The second wearable personal navigation device 804 may have transmittedan indication of the presence of the object 816 and the location of theobject 816 to the interface system 806.

In response to having received the indication of the presence of theobject 816 and the location of the object 816, the interface system 806may have analyzed the indication and determined that the object 816impedes travel along the first navigation path 814. The interface system806 may have generated a second navigation path 818 that avoids theobject 816. In particular, the second navigation path 816 may include amodification from the first navigation path 814 that causes the secondnavigation path 818 to avoid the object 816. The interface system 806may have transmitted to the second navigation path 816 to the firstwearable personal navigation device 802 to be used for guiding a userfrom the current position 810 to the destination 812 via indicating adirection of travel (such as the indication of the direction of traveldescribed in relation to the wearable personal navigation device 118).

FIG. 9 illustrates an example pair of glasses 900 adapted for use inconnection with a travel assistance system, according to variousembodiments. The travel assistance system may include one or more of thefeatures of the travel assistance system 100 (FIG. 1), the travelassistance system described in relation to FIG. 6, the travel assistancesystem described in relation to FIG. 7, the travel assistance systemdescribed in relation to FIG. 8, or some combination thereof. The pairof glasses 900 may be an embodiment of a wearable personal navigationdevice, such as the wearable personal navigation device 118 (FIG. 1).

The pair of glasses 900 may include may include one or more sensors 902.The sensors 902 may include one or more of the features of the sensors126 (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the sensors 902 may includea first camera 902 a, a second camera 902 b, and a third camera 902 c.The first camera 902 a, the second camera 902 b, and the third camera902 c may be located within a frame of the pair of glasses 900 and maybe directed outwards from the front and/or sides of the pair of glasses900. The first camera 902 a, the second camera 902 b, and the thirdcamera 902 c may capture images of the environment surrounding the pairof glasses 900.

The pair of glasses 900 may further include a processor (not shown)embedded within the frame of the pair of glasses 900. The processor mayinclude one or more of the features of the processor 122 (FIG. 1).Further, the pair of glasses 900 may include a communication system (notshown) embedded within the frame of the pair of glasses 900. Thecommunication system may include one or more of the features of thecommunication system 120 (FIG. 1).

The processor may analyze the images captured by the first camera 902 a,the second camera 902 b, and the third camera 902 c and may determine ifthere any objects within the environment surrounding the pair of glasses900. In particular, the processor may analyze the images for objectsthat impede travel along a navigation path that pair of glasses 900 isguiding a user along. In response to detecting that at least one objectthat impedes travel, the processor may cause the communication system totransmit an indication of the presence of the object(s) and the locationof the object(s) to an interface system (such as the interface system102 (FIG. 1)) of the travel assistance system. In other embodiments, theprocessor may transmit one or more representations of the images to theinterface system, via the communication system, for analysis by theinterface system.

The pair of glasses 900 may further include one or more indicators 904.The indicators 904 may include one or more of the features of theindicators 128 (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the indicators904 may include a first speaker 904 a and a second speaker 904 b. Thefirst speaker 904 a and the second speaker 904 b may indicate adirection of travel to the user of the pair of glasses 900. The firstspeaker 904 a and the second speaker 904 b may indicate the direction oftravel via words describing the direction of travel, sounds thatindicate the direction of travel, or some example thereof. For example,the first speaker 904 a may emit a sound to indicate that the usershould turn to the right to follow the direction of the travel and thesecond speaker 904 b may emit a sound to indicate that the user shouldturn to the left to follow the direction of travel.

In some embodiments, the pair of glasses 900 may further include abattery (not shown) and/or a charger (not shown) coupled to the battery.The battery may power the sensors 902, the indicators 904, theprocessor, the communication system, or some combination thereof. Thecharger may include a motion activated kinetic energy charger, or otherforms of energy chargers, that can charge the battery and/or directlypower the pair of glasses 900. Further, in some embodiments, the pair ofglasses 900 may include additional energy storage elements, that mayprovide for increased energy storage.

In some embodiments, vision assistive devices may be used in connectionwith the travel assistance system in place of the pair of glasses 900.The vision assistive devices may include one or more of the features ofthe pair of glasses 900.

FIG. 10 illustrates an example cane 1000 adapted for use in connectionwith a travel assistance system, according to various embodiments. Thetravel assistance system may include one or more of the features of thetravel assistance system 100 (FIG. 1), the travel assistance systemdescribed in relation to FIG. 6, the travel assistance system describedin relation to FIG. 7, the travel assistance system described inrelation to FIG. 8, or some combination thereof. The cane 1000 may be anembodiment of a wearable personal navigation device, such as thewearable personal navigation device 118 (FIG. 1).

The cane 1000 may include may include one or more sensors 1002. Thesensors 1002 may include one or more of the features of the sensors 126(FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the sensors 1002 may includeone or more cameras. The cameras may be located along a length of thecane 1000 and may be directed outwards from the cane 1000. The camerasmay capture images of the environment surrounding the cane 1000.

The cane 1000 may further include a processor and a communication system(illustrated as combined within the processor/communication system 1004)embedded within the cane 1000. The processor may include one or more ofthe features of the processor 122 (FIG. 1). Further, the communicationsystem may include one or more of the features of the communicationsystem 120 (FIG. 1).

The processor may analyze the images captured by cameras and maydetermine if there any objects within the environment surrounding thecane 1000. In particular, the processor may analyze the images forobjects that impede travel along a navigation path that pair of glassesis guiding a user along. In response to detecting that at least oneobject that impedes travel, the processor may cause the communicationsystem to transmit an indication of the presence of the object(s) andthe location of the object(s) to an interface system (such as theinterface system 102 (FIG. 1)) of the travel assistance system. In otherembodiments, the processor may transmit one or more representations ofthe images to the interface system, via the communication system, foranalysis by the interface system.

The cane 1000 may further include one or more indicators 1006. Theindicators 1006 may include one or more of the features of theindicators 128 (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the indicators1006 may include one or more actuators. The actuators may indicate adirection of travel to the user of the cane 1000. In particular, theactuators may be located in a handle of the cane 1000 and may apply aforce to a hand of the user to indicate the direction of travel.

In some embodiments, the cane 1000 may further include a battery and/ora charger (illustrated as combined within the battery/charger 1008)coupled to the battery. The battery may power the sensors 1002, theindicators 1006, the processor, the communication system, or somecombination thereof. The charger may include a kinetic energy chargerthat charges the battery as the cane 1000 moves.

FIG. 11 illustrates an example animal harness 1100 adapted for use inconnection with a travel assistance system, according to variousembodiments. The travel assistance system may include one or more of thefeatures of the travel assistance system 100 (FIG. 1), the travelassistance system described in relation to FIG. 6, the travel assistancesystem described in relation to FIG. 7, the travel assistance systemdescribed in relation to FIG. 8, or some combination thereof. The animalharness 1100 may be an embodiment of a wearable personal navigationdevice, such as the wearable personal navigation device 118 (FIG. 1).The animal harness 1100 may be placed on an animal associated with theuser, such as on a service dog.

The animal harness 1100 may include may include one or more sensors1102. The sensors 1102 may include one or more of the features of thesensors 126 (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the sensors 1102may include a first camera 1102 a, a second camera 1102 b, a thirdcamera 1102 c, and a forth camera 1102 d. The first camera 1102 a, thesecond camera 1102 b, the third camera 1102 c, and the forth camera 1102d may be located along the animal harness 1100 and may be directedoutwards from the animal harness 1100. The first camera 1102 a, thesecond camera 1102 b, the third camera 1102 c, and the forth camera 1102d may capture images of the environment surrounding the cane 1000.

The animal harness 1100 may further include a processor and acommunication system (illustrated as combined within theprocessor/communication system 1108) embedded within the animal harness1100. The processor may include one or more of the features of theprocessor 122 (FIG. 1). Further, the communication system may includeone or more of the features of the communication system 120 (FIG. 1).

The processor may analyze the images captured by the first camera 1102a, the second camera 1102 b, the third camera 1102 c, and the forthcamera 1102 d and may determine if there any objects within theenvironment surrounding the animal harness 1100. In particular, theprocessor may analyze the images for objects that impede travel along anavigation path that pair of glasses is guiding a user along. Inresponse to detecting that at least one object that impedes travel, theprocessor may cause the communication system to transmit an indicationof the presence of the object(s) and the location of the object(s) to aninterface system (such as the interface system 102 (FIG. 1)) of thetravel assistance system. In other embodiments, the processor maytransmit one or more representations of the images to the interfacesystem, via the communication system, for analysis by the interfacesystem.

The animal harness 1100 may further include one or more indicators 1104.The indicators 1104 may include one or more of the features of theindicators 128 (FIG. 1). The indicators 1104 may include one or morespeakers. In the illustrated embodiment, the indicators 1104 may includea first speaker 1104 a and a second speaker 1104 b. The first speaker1104 a and the second speaker 1104 b may indicate a direction of travelto the user of the animal harness 1100. The first speaker 1104 a and thesecond speaker 1104 b may indicate the direction of travel via wordsdescribing the direction of travel, sounds that indicate the directionof travel, or some example thereof. For example, the first speaker 1104a may emit a sound to indicate that the animal wearing the animalharness 1100 should turn to the right to lead an individual along thedirection of the travel and the second speaker 1104 b may emit a soundto indicate that the animal wearing the animal harness 1100 should turnto the left to lead the individual along the direction of the travel.

In some embodiments, the indicators 1104 may include actuators, such asthe actuators described in relation to the indicators 128. The actuatorsmay apply a force to the animal wearing the animal harness 1100, wherethe force may indicate a direction of travel to the animal. In someembodiments, the indicators 1104 may use touch commands to indicatedirection the animal should travel.

In some embodiments, the animal harness 1100 may further include abattery and/or a charger (illustrated as combined within thebattery/charger 1006) coupled to the battery. The battery may power thesensors 1102, the indicators 1104, the processor, the communicationsystem, or some combination thereof. The charger may include a kineticenergy charger that charges the battery as the animal harness 1100moves. In some embodiments, the charger may include a solar charger thatcharges the battery as light contacts the solar charger.

FIG. 12 illustrates an example shoe 1200 adapted for use in connectionwith a travel assistance system, according to various embodiments. Thetravel assistance system may include one or more of the features of thetravel assistance system 100 (FIG. 1), the travel assistance systemdescribed in relation to FIG. 6, the travel assistance system describedin relation to FIG. 7, the travel assistance system described inrelation to FIG. 8, or some combination thereof. The shoe 1200 may be anembodiment of a wearable personal navigation device, such as thewearable personal navigation device 118 (FIG. 1). The shoe 1200 may beworn by a user.

The shoe 1200 may include may include one or more sensors 1202. Thesensors 1202 may include one or more of the features of the sensors 126(FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the sensors 1202 may include afirst pressure sensor 1202 a, a second pressure sensor 1202 b, and athird pressure sensor 1202 c. The first pressure sensor 1202 a, thesecond pressure sensor 1202 b, and the third pressure sensor 1202 c maybe located may be located throughout the shoe 1200 and may sense contactof objects with the exterior of the shoe 1200. In particular, the firstpressure sensor 1202 a, the second pressure sensor 1202 b, and the thirdpressure sensor 1202 c may sense contact with an object and a locationof the object can be determined based on the location of the shoe 1200.

The shoe 1200 may further include a processor (not shown) and acommunication system (not shown) embedded within the shoe 1200. Theprocessor may include one or more of the features of the processor 122(FIG. 1). Further, the communication system may include one or more ofthe features of the communication system 120 (FIG. 1). In response to anobject being sensed by the sensors 1202, the processor may cause thecommunication system to transmit an indication of the presence of theobject(s) and the location of the shoe 1200 and/or object(s) to aninterface system (such as the interface system 102 (FIG. 1)) of thetravel assistance system. The interface system may determine thelocation of the object based on the indication from the shoe 1200.

The shoe 1200 may further include one or more indicators (not shown).The indicators may include one or more of the features of the indicators128 (FIG. 1). The indicators may be located within an interior of theshoe and may abut a foot of the user. In the illustrated embodiment, theindicators may include one or more actuators. The actuators may indicatea direction of travel to the user of the shoe. In particular, theactuators may be located at different locations within the interior ofthe shoe and may apply a force to the foot of the user to indicate thedirection of travel.

In some embodiments, the shoe 1200 may further include a battery (notshown) and/or a charger 1204 coupled to the battery. The battery maypower the sensors 1202, the indicators, the processor, the communicationsystem, or some combination thereof. The charger 1204 may include asolar charger that may charge the battery as light contacts the solarcharger. In some embodiments, the charger may include a kinetic energycharger that charges the battery as the shoe 1200 moves.

FIG. 13 illustrates an example belt 1300 adapted for use in connectionwith a travel assistance system, according to various embodiments. Thebelt 1300 may include an exterior side 1302 and an interior side 1350,wherein the interior side 1350 is to abut the user when the belt isworn. The exterior side 1302 of the belt 1300 may be textured toindicate that it is the exterior. The travel assistance system mayinclude one or more of the features of the travel assistance system 100(FIG. 1), the travel assistance system described in relation to FIG. 6,the travel assistance system described in relation to FIG. 7, the travelassistance system described in relation to FIG. 8, or some combinationthereof. The belt 1300 may be an embodiment of a wearable personalnavigation device, such as the wearable personal navigation device 118(FIG. 1). The belt 1300 may be worn by a user.

The belt 1300 may include may include one or more sensors 1304. Thesensors 1304 may include one or more of the features of the sensors 126(FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the sensors 1304 may include anambient light sensor 1304 a and a motion sensor 1304 b. The ambientlight sensor 1304 a may be located along the exterior side 1302 of thebelt 1300 and may be directed outwards from the belt 1300. The ambientlight sensor 1304 a may sense an amount of ambient light surrounding thebelt 1300. In some embodiments, one or more operations of the belt 1300may be inactive until the amount of ambient light surrounding the belt1300 is below a predetermined amount of ambient light, whereinadditional operations of the belt 1300 may be active when the ambientlight is below the predetermined amount of ambient light.

The motion sensor 1304 b may be embedded within the belt 1300. Themotion sensor 1304 b may sense movement of the belt 1300. In someembodiments, one or more operations of the belt 1300 may be inactivewhen the motion sensor 1304 b senses that the belt 1300 is not moving,wherein additional operations of the belt 1300 may be active when motionsensor 1304 b senses that the belt 1300 is moving.

The belt 1300 may further include a processor (not shown) and acommunication system (not shown) embedded within the belt 1300. Theprocessor may include one or more of the features of the processor 122(FIG. 1). Further, the communication system may include one or more ofthe features of the communication system 120 (FIG. 1).

The processor may analyze the amount of ambient light sensed by theambient light sensor 1304 a and may activate the additional operationsof the belt 1300 when the ambient light is below the predeterminedamount of ambient light. Further, the processor may analyze the motionof the belt 1300 sensed by the motion sensor 1304 b and may activate theadditional operations of the belt 1300 when the belt 1300 is in motion.The processor may further transmit an indication that the additionaloperations of the belt 1300 have been activated to an interface system(such as the interface system 102 (FIG. 1)) via the communicationsystem. The interface system may perform operations to support theadditional operations of the belt 1300 (such as providing a navigationpath to the belt 1300) in response to receiving the indication.

The belt 1300 may further include one or more indicators 1306. Theindicators 1306 may include one or more of the features of theindicators 128 (FIG. 1). In the illustrated embodiment, the indicators1306 may include a line of actuators that extend along at least aportion of a length of the belt 130 and are either along the interiorside 1350 of the belt 1300 or embedded within the belt 1300. Theactuators may apply a force to the user to indicate a direction oftravel to the user of the belt 1300.

The belt 1300 may further include a battery and/or a charger(illustrated as combined within the battery/charger 1308) coupled to thebattery. The battery may power the sensors 1304, the indicators 1306,the processor, the communication system, or some combination thereof.The charger may include a solar charger that charges the battery aslight contacts the solar charger. In some embodiments, the charger mayinclude a kinetic energy charger that charges the battery as the belt1300 moves.

Example 1 may include a wearable personal navigation device, comprisinga communication system configured to wirelessly communicate with a nodeof a network, an indicator configured to indicate a direction of travelto a user of the wearable personal navigation device, and a processorcoupled to the communication system and the indicator, wherein theprocessor is configured to generate a request for a navigation path froma location of the user to a destination, transmit the request to thenode of the network via the communication system, determine thedirection of travel from the location of the user based on a firstnavigation path received from the node of the network in response to therequest, wherein the first navigation path includes at least onemodification from a second navigation path that is generated based on amap accessible by the network, wherein the at least one modification isbased on data received by the network from a remote device thatindicates an object along the second navigation path, the object beingabsent from the map, and cause the indicator to indicate the directionof travel in response to the determination of the direction of travel.

Example 2 may include the wearable personal navigation device of example1 or some other example herein, wherein the indicator includes aspeaker, and wherein the speaker is configured to emit a sound thatindicates the direction of travel.

Example 3 may include the wearable personal navigation device of example2 or some other example herein, wherein the wearable personal navigationdevice is an article of clothing, a pair of glasses, a pair of headphones, a cane, a wristband, or an animal harness.

Example 4 may include the wearable personal navigation device of example1 or some other example herein, wherein the indicator includes anactuator, wherein the actuator is to apply a force to the user orgenerate a touch pattern to be sensed by the user that indicates thedirection of travel.

Example 5 may include the wearable personal navigation device of example4 or some other example herein, wherein the wearable personal navigationdevice is a pair of glasses, a cane, an animal harness, a shoe, a belt,a wristband, or a glove.

Example 6 may include the wearable personal navigation device of example1 or some other example herein, further comprising a camera configuredto capture an image of a surrounding environment of the location of theuser, wherein the processor is further configured to transmit arepresentation of the image to the node of the network via thecommunication system for identification of one or more additionalobjects by the network.

Example 7 may include the wearable personal navigation device of example1 or some other example herein, further comprising a sonar systemconfigured to detect a distance between a second object along thenavigation path and the wearable personal navigation device, wherein theprocessor is further configured to transmit an indication of thedistance to the node of the network via the communication system.

Example 8 may include the wearable personal navigation device of example1 or some other example herein, further comprising an ambient lightsensor configured to sense an amount of ambient light surrounding thewearable personal navigation device, wherein the processor is configuredto generate the request in response to the amount of ambient light beingbelow a threshold level.

Example 9 may include an interface system, comprising a communicationsystem configured to wirelessly communicate with a wearable personalnavigation device, and a processor coupled to the communication system,wherein the processor is configured to identify a destination within arequest for a navigation path to the destination received from thewearable personal navigation device via the communication system,identify a location of the wearable personal navigation device inresponse to receipt of the request, obtain a first navigation path fromthe location of the wearable personal navigation device to thedestination, the first navigation path obtained from a network resourcevia the communication system, modify the first navigation path based onan object along the navigation path identified from data received from aremote device via the communication system, wherein the modification ofthe first navigation path produces a second navigation path, andtransmit the second navigation path to the wearable personal navigationdevice.

Example 10 may include the interface system of example 9 or some otherexample herein, wherein the remote device is a second wearable personalnavigation device, and wherein the data received from the remote deviceincludes a representation of an image captured by a camera of the secondwearable personal navigation device.

Example 11 may include the interface system of example 9 or some otherexample herein, wherein the data received from the remote deviceincludes a representation of an image captured by the remote device, andwherein the processor is further configured to identify the object fromthe representation of the image.

Example 12 may include the interface system of example 9 or some otherexample herein, wherein the processor is further configured to generatemultiple alternative navigation paths based on data received from aplurality of remote devices, assign difficulty ratings to each of themultiple alternative navigation paths based on travel difficulty of eachof the multiple alternative navigation paths, and select the secondnavigation path from the multiple alternative navigation paths based onthe second navigation being assigned an easiest difficulty rating of thedifficulty ratings assigned to each of the multiple alternativenavigation paths.

Example 13 may include the interface system of example 12 or some otherexample herein, wherein the processor is further configured to update adifficulty rating of the second navigation path based on feedbackreceived from the wearable personal navigation device via thecommunication system.

Example 14 may include the interface system of example 9 or some otherexample herein, further comprising a memory device, wherein theprocessor is further configured to store the second navigation path tothe memory device, obtain the second navigation path from the memorydevice in response to a subsequent request from the location to thedestination, and transmit the second navigation path via thecommunication system in response to the subsequent request.

Example 15 may include the interface system of example 9 or some otherexample herein wherein the remote device is a pair of glasses, earphones, a cane, an animal harness, a shoe, a belt, a wristband, a glove,or an article of clothing that is to indicate a direction of travel to auser of the wearable personal navigation device based on the secondnavigation path.

Example 16 may include the interface system of example 9 or some otherexample herein, wherein the destination includes an indication of aresource, and wherein the processor is further configured to determine alocation of the resource from a network-accessible database, wherein thelocation of the resource is utilized to obtain the first navigationpath.

Example 17 may include the interface system of example 9 or some otherexample herein, wherein the processor is further configured to receive arequest to identify a specified object within an environment around thewearable personal navigation device, the request initiated in responseto a user request for identification of the specified object or a suddendeviation of the wearable personal navigation device from the secondnavigation path, identify the specified object, and transmit anindication of an identification of the specified object to the wearablepersonal navigation device.

Example 18 may include one or more computer readable media havinginstructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, when executed bya wireless device, cause the wireless device to generate a request for anavigation path from a location of the wireless device to a destination,transmit the request to a node of a network, determine a direction oftravel from the location of the wireless device based on a firstnavigation path received from the node of the network in response to therequest, wherein the first navigation path includes at least onemodification from a second navigation path that is generated based on amap accessible by the network, wherein the at least one modification isbased on data received by the network from a remote device thatindicates an object along the virtual navigation path, the object beingabsent from the map, and transmit an indication of the direction oftravel to an indicator coupled to the wireless device, wherein theindicator is to indicate the direction of travel to a user of thewireless device.

Example 19 may include the one or more computer readable media ofexample 18 or some other example herein, wherein the indicator includesa pair of glasses with a speaker or a pair of ear phones, wherein thepair of glasses with the speaker or the pair of ear phones are to emit asound that indicates the direction of travel in response to receivingthe indication of the direction of travel.

Example 20 may include the one or more computer readable media ofexample 18 or some other example herein, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by the wireless device, further cause the wireless device totransmit a representation of an image to the node of the network, therepresentation of the image received from a camera of the indicator,determine an updated direction of travel based on an updated navigationpath received from the node of the network, wherein the updatednavigation path is updated from the navigation path based onrepresentation of the image, and transmit an indication of the updateddirection of travel to an indicator coupled to the wireless device,wherein the indicator is to indicate the updated direction of travel toa user of the wireless device.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the disclosed embodiments ofthe disclosed device and associated methods without departing from thespirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, it is intended that the presentdisclosure covers the modifications and variations of the embodimentsdisclosed above provided that the modifications and variations comewithin the scope of any claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wearable personal navigation device,comprising: a communication system configured to wirelessly communicatewith a node of a network; an indicator configured to indicate adirection of travel to a user of the wearable personal navigationdevice; and a processor coupled to the communication system and theindicator, wherein the processor is configured to: generate a requestfor a navigation path from a location of the user to a destination;transmit the request to the node of the network via the communicationsystem; determine the direction of travel from the location of the userbased on a first navigation path received from the node of the networkin response to the request, wherein the first navigation path includesat least one modification from a second navigation path that isgenerated based on a map accessible by the network, wherein the at leastone modification is based on data received by the network from a remotedevice that indicates an object along the second navigation path, theobject being absent from the map; and cause the indicator to indicatethe direction of travel in response to the determination of thedirection of travel.
 2. The wearable personal navigation device of claim1, wherein the indicator includes a speaker, and wherein the speaker isconfigured to emit a sound that indicates the direction of travel. 3.The wearable personal navigation device of claim 2, wherein the wearablepersonal navigation device is an article of clothing, a pair of glasses,a pair of head phones, a cane, a wristband, or an animal harness.
 4. Thewearable personal navigation device of claim 1, wherein the indicatorincludes an actuator, wherein the actuator is to apply a force to theuser or generate a touch pattern to be sensed by the user that indicatesthe direction of travel.
 5. The wearable personal navigation device ofclaim 4, wherein the wearable personal navigation device is a pair ofglasses, a cane, an animal harness, a shoe, a belt, a wristband, or aglove.
 6. The wearable personal navigation device of claim 1, furthercomprising a camera configured to capture an image of a surroundingenvironment of the location of the user, wherein the processor isfurther configured to transmit a representation of the image to the nodeof the network via the communication system for identification of one ormore additional objects by the network.
 7. The wearable personalnavigation device of claim 1, further comprising a sonar systemconfigured to detect a distance between a second object along thenavigation path and the wearable personal navigation device, wherein theprocessor is further configured to transmit an indication of thedistance to the node of the network via the communication system.
 8. Thewearable personal navigation device of claim 1, further comprising anambient light sensor configured to sense an amount of ambient lightsurrounding the wearable personal navigation device, wherein theprocessor is configured to generate the request in response to theamount of ambient light being below a threshold level.
 9. A interfacesystem, comprising: a communication system configured to wirelesslycommunicate with a wearable personal navigation device; and a processorcoupled to the communication system, wherein the processor is configuredto: identify a destination within a request for a navigation path to thedestination received from the wearable personal navigation device viathe communication system; identify a location of the wearable personalnavigation device in response to receipt of the request; obtain a firstnavigation path from the location of the wearable personal navigationdevice to the destination, the first navigation path obtained from anetwork resource via the communication system; modify the firstnavigation path based on an object along the navigation path identifiedfrom data received from a remote device via the communication system,wherein the modification of the first navigation path produces a secondnavigation path; and transmit the second navigation path to the wearablepersonal navigation device.
 10. The interface system of claim 9, whereinthe remote device is a second wearable personal navigation device, andwherein the data received from the remote device includes arepresentation of an image captured by a camera of the second wearablepersonal navigation device.
 11. The interface system of claim 9, whereinthe data received from the remote device includes a representation of animage captured by the remote device, and wherein the processor isfurther configured to: identify the object from the representation ofthe image.
 12. The interface system of claim 9, wherein the processor isfurther configured to: generate multiple alternative navigation pathsbased on data received from a plurality of remote devices; assigndifficulty ratings to each of the multiple alternative navigation pathsbased on travel difficulty of each of the multiple alternativenavigation paths; and select the second navigation path from themultiple alternative navigation paths based on the second navigationbeing assigned an easiest difficulty rating of the difficulty ratingsassigned to each of the multiple alternative navigation paths.
 13. Theinterface system of claim 12, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: update a difficulty rating of the second navigation pathbased on feedback received from the wearable personal navigation devicevia the communication system.
 14. The interface system of claim 9,further comprising a memory device, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: store the second navigation path to the memory device;obtain the second navigation path from the memory device in response toa subsequent request from the location to the destination; and transmitthe second navigation path via the communication system in response tothe subsequent request.
 15. The interface system of claim 9, wherein theremote device is a pair of glasses, ear phones, a cane, an animalharness, a shoe, a belt, a wristband, a glove, or an article of clothingthat is to indicate a direction of travel to a user of the wearablepersonal navigation device based on the second navigation path.
 16. Theinterface system of claim 9, wherein the destination includes anindication of a resource, and wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: determine a location of the resource from anetwork-accessible database, wherein the location of the resource isutilized to obtain the first navigation path.
 17. The interface systemof claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to: receive arequest to identify a specified object within an environment around thewearable personal navigation device, the request initiated in responseto a user request for identification of the specified object or a suddendeviation of the wearable personal navigation device from the secondnavigation path; identify the specified object; and transmit anindication of an identification of the specified object to the wearablepersonal navigation device.
 18. One or more computer readable mediahaving instructions stored thereon, wherein the instructions, whenexecuted by a wireless device, cause the wireless device to: generate arequest for a navigation path from a location of the wireless device toa destination; transmit the request to a node of a network; determine adirection of travel from the location of the wireless device based on afirst navigation path received from the node of the network in responseto the request, wherein the first navigation path includes at least onemodification from a second navigation path that is generated based on amap accessible by the network, wherein the at least one modification isbased on data received by the network from a remote device thatindicates an object along the virtual navigation path, the object beingabsent from the map; and transmit an indication of the direction oftravel to an indicator coupled to the wireless device, wherein theindicator is to indicate the direction of travel to a user of thewireless device.
 19. The one or more computer readable media of claim18, wherein the indicator includes a pair of glasses with a speaker or apair of ear phones, wherein the pair of glasses with the speaker or thepair of ear phones are to emit a sound that indicates the direction oftravel in response to receiving the indication of the direction oftravel.
 20. The one or more computer readable media of claim 18, whereinthe instructions, when executed by the wireless device, further causethe wireless device to: transmit a representation of an image to thenode of the network, the representation of the image received from acamera of the indicator; determine an updated direction of travel basedon an updated navigation path received from the node of the network,wherein the updated navigation path is updated from the navigation pathbased on representation of the image; and transmit an indication of theupdated direction of travel to an indicator coupled to the wirelessdevice, wherein the indicator is to indicate the updated direction oftravel to a user of the wireless device.